Hosiery



HOSIERY Filed Dec. ll, 1930 (Ute: nntp -ldl Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEY WILLIAM L. THOMPSON, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB T0 LAZUBE L.

GOODMAN, Oli' INDIANAPOLIS,` INDIANA noemer Application tiled December 11, 1980. Serial' No. 591,700.

This invention relates to hosiery, and has particular reference to an improved construction for stockings, such as the full-fashioned type, involvingl a double welt top servmg as a foundation for garters and strengthening the upper end of the stocking fabric against breaks and runs when under a reasonable stretch. Essentially the invention involves a manner of strengthening a stocking in the area of the line of joinder of the Welt with the. boot fabric, which portion of the stocking is particularly subjected to strain., the object in view being to distribute the stresses so that they will not be concentrated at the line of joinder or any point in the fabric in the vicinity of such line, or be imposed on the adjoining :fine boot fabric which is far weaker than the Welt;

lt is now common practice, especially in making full-fashioned stockings, to double the fabric in the top from the line of intersection of the Welt with the stocking leg. Such practice results in an increase in fabric, greater strength and a lessened elasticity in the vvelt. dustbelow the Welt in the boot, the fabric is comparatively loose and fragile. "lhe doubled portion of the welt is either limit in or served to the main portion of the Welt along its line of joinder With the stocking boot, that is, along the Welt loose-line. With auch a construction there will be a strain imposed on the fabric when the stocking is stretched, which Will be concentrated at the Welt loose-line at one or more points circumferentiallv of the stocking, with a resulting danger of breaks and runs. i

llt is one principal object of the present invention to so reinforce a stocking top as to prevent concentration of any strains at the line of joinder of the Welt and boot with reenlting increased durability of the stocking in this part. v

l am aware that it is now common practice to introduce into a stocking top one or more eo-called anti-ravel courses intended to prevent runs originating in the welt continuing down into the boot fabric, such reinforccrnents being usually placed either just above or just below the linedeiining the joinder of the Welt and boot. It is to be expressly un standard practice, in order to prevent bunching of the fabric, to refrain from securing the several portions of the double Welt to-A gether, but to seam one portion and to gather the lower end-preferably just the cornersof the other portion in the seam substantially at the intersection of the latter with the welt loose-line,'with the result that at such point there is a. lack of elasticity, which, when the stocking is subject to a fair degree of stretch, will cause a breakage Wherever there is wealt fabric. Since the fabric is relatively strong in the Welt, breakage often occurs in the weaker boot fabric near the intersection of the seam and Welt loose-line, due to normal tensioning arising from stresses imposed by flexing of the upper leg muscles, and, more particularly, due to the common three-point supporter Worn by many Women in which one of the supports comes at the rear of the stoching causing1 a cross-strain between the heavier and weaker fabric.

While, as heretofore indicated, is broad ly my purpose to reinforce a stockingl top in such a manner as to prevent strain from concentrating at the welt loose-line in any or all points in the circumference, it will be realized, in view of the practice just discussed, that the area of the stocking fabric in the region of the Welt loose-line at its intersection with the baclrseam is most subject to strain. Hence, l intend, as a further object of my invention, to provide a Inodied construction vvhcrein the proposed reinforcement may be confined to a relatively small arca at such point of intersection, so that if it is desired not to extend the reinforcement for the complete circumference of the stoelting, the principal advantages may still be obtained with the modified construction.

The particular construction of the reinforcement may vary and include any elastic or inelasticpatch which may be stitched to the stocking fabric. I prefer, however, to provide a knit-in reinforcement including one or more reinforcing threads which may be automatically knit in to the body of the fabric during the course of making the we lt and boot, utilizing additional yarns and guides as is well known practice in reinforcing the foot portions of stockings. The various practices and mechanisms utilized in reinforcing stockings generally are so well known that a detailed description here appears unnecessary.

The width of the reinforced arca and its position relative to the line of joinder of the welt. and boot fabric will be determined aC'- cording to the coarseness or fineness of the stocking fabric and the kind and strength of yarn used in the two parts. Since the fabric of the boot top is weaker and more elastic than the adjoining welt, it may be desirable that the reinforcement include a greater arca relative to the line of joinder in the boot fabric than in thc heavier and doubled welt. In the construction where the reinforcement is .restricted to the area in the immediate vicinity of the intersection of the welt looseline and back seam, it is preferable that the reinforcement center at the point of junction and extend above and below the welt looseline on both sides of the seam so that strains will be distributed in all directions away from the point to the surrounding fabric.

lln the following detailed description, ll will lirst discuss the embodiment wherein the reinforcement is confined to a small area relative to the welt loose-line as the broad features and advantages of my invention can readily be understood therefrom, and a brief description can be given of the embodiment where the reinforcement extends around the whole or any lesser principal part of the circumference of the stocking at the welt loose line.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a pair of stockings including one embodiment of my invention wherein the reinforcement is restricted to a small area relative to the back seam of the stocking;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the rear portion of a stocking top along the seam, depicting the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken diametrically opposite to and illustrating the same embodiment as in Fig. :2, a portion of the front of the welt and boot top being broken away to illustrate the arrangement of a reinforcement with respect to a double welt as viewed from the inside of the stocking; and

Figs. 4. and 5 are fragnientary views corresponding respectively to Figs. 2 and 3, and s low a further embodiment of my invention wherein the reinforcement is not restricted to a particular area relative to the stocking seam.

Considering now the drawings, with particular reference to the embodiment of Figs. l, Q'and 3, the reference characterl() indicates generall a double welt of the usual type, comprising two thicknesses of fabric, 10a shown in Fig. 2 and 10b seen in Fig. 3, which join in the welt loose-line constituting the line of junction 11 between the welt and the upper end of the stocking boot 12. As in the case of all full-fashioned stockings, a seam 13 extends longitudinally of the rear center of the boot and welt. As shown in Fig. 3, the practice employed in a double welt construction comprises searning the two portions 10a and 10b of the fabric se arately so as to prevent bunching of-the fa ric and to permit of a greater degree of elasticity. In this connection it will be noted that the edges of the inner portion 10b are seamed for a short extent near the top, and the lower ends 14, usually just the corners, are gathered in the seam substantially at the oint of intersection 15 f the line of junction 11 with the seam 13, leaving an open unseamed length which facilitates stretching of the welt.

The welt 10 being doubled and usually including a heavier fabric than the adjoining portion of the boot 12, will of course be stronger and less elastic than the boot fabric, and hence any strain in the area of the line of junction 11 of the two will be particularly felt in the weaker and more elastic fabric of the boot. Hence, by reason of the practice of anchoring the lower ends lll of the inner thickness 10b of the welt fabric at the point of intersection 15l of the seam and welt loose-line, a strain is imposed at this point when the stocking is stretched, which is likely to result in breakage in the region of the seam in the outer fabric of the welt, and more particularly, in the boot fabric. I therefore provide a reinforcement 16, preferably of the knit-in type, in the main outer fabric 10a of the welt on both sides of the seam 13 and extending across the welt loose-line into the fabric of the boot l2. Such reinforcement should entirely surround the point of stress 15 and center thereat as a focal point so that any strains will be distributed equally in the stocking fabric in all directions in the' region of the point.

Referring now to thev second embodiment of my invention. shown in Figures 4 and 5, it will be seen that the reinforcement of the general nature, of that just described may be extended circlnnferentially for any desired distance to strengthen the stocking and prevent a concentration of strains along the line of joinder of the welt and boot top, along the whole or any desired portion of the same. The numeral 20 indicates the welt of a stocking which is joined along the line 21 with the fabric of the boot top'22. Ina the draw.- ing the welt is doubled, comprising an outer portion 20a and an inner portion 20b. However, it will be appreciated that the present embodiment of my invention can be applied to some advantage to a stocking 'having a .single fabric welt. The reinforcement consti'tuting my invention herein is indicated by the numeral 26 and may extend for as muc of the circumference of the stocking as deemed desirable in accordance with the particular grade and style. The illustration shows a stocking having a reinforcement lying on both sides of the welt line 21 extending upwardly into the outer portion 20a of the fabric of the welt 20 and downwardly into the fabric of the boot 22. v If desirable, of course, the reinforcement in the welt may be made to reinforce the inner portion 2Gb of the welt fabric in addition to or in lieu of that in portion 20a. It is preferable, in case the reinforcement extend for less than the whole point of intersection of the Welt loose-line with the back seam 23. A reinforcement extending about half an inch on either side 0f 'the welt loose-.line has been found satisfactory, but any desired width of reinforcement may be utilized.

tions'of the welt and boo t top which frequently give rise to runs are so strengthened greater than that above.

Having now described my invention, it' is believed that the great advantages resultin therefrom will be appreciated. It'is a we known fact to those of experience in the hosiery fieldthat the region ric of stockings having a double welt around With this construction the por? rear stoc ing seam,

of the stocking fabest points is increased with resulting increase in wearing qualities.

I claim:

1. A full fashionedknitted stockin including a leg portion ofv relatively de icate material and a top or weltof heavier and doubled fabric forming a continuation thereof, and a reinforced larea along the line of joinder of the leg portion and welt including the point where such line intersects the rear stocking seam and comprehending the fabric of the leg portion and at least l'one thickness of the welt which lie adjacent the said line.

2. A full fashioned knitted. stockin including a leg portion :of relatively de icate material and a Welt or top of heavier and doubled fabric forming a continuation thereof, and a reinforcement in the vicinity of the rear seam com rehending the fabric of the leg portion and) at least one thickness of the welt fabric which lie adjacent-the line of joinder of the welt and leg portion.

3. A full fashioned stockin including a leg portion, atop or .welt of oubled fabric forming a continuation of the leo portion, and a reinforced area comprehend' cent portions of the le and welt immediate vicinty o therebetween, ing the lying in the including the fabric surroundoint where such line intersects the s aid reinforcement being of greater strength than the main fabric of the leg below the reinforcement and of greater strength'than the main fabric of the welt above the reinforcement and being` adapted to absorb strains arising in the, vlcinity of said line.

In testimon whereof, I atlx my signature. VVllLLIAM vL. THOMPSON.

the welt loose-line near its intersection with the seam is relativelyweak by reason of the practices resorted to ii'making such a welt,

' and breaks and runs frequently occur. The differences in strength and elastic qualities of the welt and boot top will, of course, when the stocking is stretched, produce astrain which will break out the weaker fabric. It is this defect mylinvention is calculated to overcome, and in strengthening the fabric of both the welt and boot top, by the proper distribution of the area of reinforcement'as above set forth, it is possible to compensate for the differences in elasticity and strength between the two parts of the stockin Thus the strength of a stocking at one of lts weak- 1ng adja-v the line ofV Joinder 

